Mercy Finds Us Where We Are

Today, we move from Colossae to Timothy. In his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14), Paul recounts how mercy found him and transformed his life from ignorance to wisdom. It is striking that Paul uses the word ignorance. How could this be, since Paul was a well-educated man, highly trained in the law?

The truth is that Paul had knowledge, but without Jesus, his knowledge was incomplete. No matter how much we know, without the Spirit of God, we remain in darkness.

Paul’s life reminds us that mercy can find us wherever we are. Mercy is not a reward for the deserving but the immeasurable gift of God to us even when we fall short. Yet mercy is not meant to stop with us, it has a purpose. The one who has received mercy is called to become merciful toward others.

Mercy is a Gift

This is where the Gospel comes in. Jesus warns (Luke 6:39-42) that we cannot lead others if we are blind ourselves, and that before we correct others, we must first correct our own hearts. However, correction is not one-sided. One of the problems of our world today is that those who correct often refuse to accept correction themselves. But if we are open and humble enough both to give and to receive admonition, then true growth and unity become possible.

Mercy, then, gives us both competence and integrity: competence because God’s grace opens our eyes to truth, and integrity because we live in humility, not pretending to be above those we are called to guide.

Friends, let us never forget that mercy found us so that we may walk in truth and extend that mercy to others. Knowledge without Jesus is empty, but with His mercy, we gain both wisdom and life.

Please read 1 Kings 12 and pray with Psalm 27. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts. Amen